University of Kansas
Kansas City, Kansas

The University of Kansas Cancer Center (KUCC) was founded in 2002 and became an NCI-designated cancer center in 2012. The Center’s mission, through its innovative approach to drug discovery, delivery, and development, is to transform cancer research and clinical care delivered in Kansas and Missouri.

KUCC operates as a matrix organization, including: the University of Kansas Medical Center campuses in Kansas City, Wichita and Salina, the University of Kansas in Lawrence and its #2 ranked School of Pharmacy (per NIH funding), The University of Kansas Hospital, and the Stowers Institute for Medical Research (via consortium agreement).

KUCC membership includes more than 170 faculty researchers representing 28 departments from all campuses. KUCC has four research programs (Cancer Biology; Cancer Control & Population Health; Cancer Prevention; and Drug Discovery, Delivery, & Experimental Therapeutics) with diverse scientific depth and breadth provided by nationally recognized scientists. Synergized by its innovative drug discovery and development, collaborations with the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, and access to long neglected, critically underserved populations (Rural America and Native Americans) KUCC is in the forefront to create a research agenda in the fight against cancer.

KUCC receives tremendous institutional, community, and state support as evidenced by more than $100 million in funding from KU Endowment, $38 million from the University of Kansas, $53 million from the Kansas Bioscience Authority, $28 million from the State of Kansas, $5 million per year from the Johnson County Education and Research tax, and $2 million per year from The University of Kansas Hospital. KUCC maintains a collegial environment that encourages transdisciplinary collaboration with new and renovated space, including the 82,000 square foot KU Clinical Research Center, the 170,000 square foot Kansas Masonic Cancer Research Institute, and five shared resources—Lead Development and Optimization, Biospecimen Repository, Biostatistics, Transgenic and Gene-Targeting, and Health Communication Research.

* This profile was provided by the University of Kansas Cancer Center.